Corner construction for a receptacle



p 25, 1956 s. E. MAUTNER 2,764,314

comma CONSTRUCTION FOR A RECEPTACLE Filed July 16, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent CORNER CONSTRUCTION FOR A RECEPTACLE Steven E. Mautner, Port Jervis, N. Y., assignor to Skydyne, Inc., Port Jervis, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,117

1 Claim. (Cl. 22084) My invention relates to a chest or receptacle, and more particularly to a corner construction therefor.

In shipping fine instruments and other articles, particularly to the tropics, it is desirable to have a case or receptacle which is very sturdy so as to resist breakage when subjected to rough handling. Receptacles are subject to the danger of cracking or breaking loose at the corners and thus provide a passage for moisture to the interior of the receptacle. It is the principal object of my invention to provide means for substantially reinforcing the corners of a receptacle.

It is a further object to provide means for anchoring frame members to each other so as to form a very strong yet simple corner construction.

Other objects and various features of novelty and invention will hereinafter be pointed out or will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a case or receptacle illustrative of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the four frame pieces at the corner.

The coverless or open chest as illustrated is formed partly of panels the edges of which fit into frame members so as to provide a sturdy chest or receptacle. In the particular form illustrated, the side and bottom and top panels are, preferably, formed of some light-weight material sandwiched between sheets of thin metal, so as to provide additional strength and resistance to rupture and abrasion, and to render the panels moistureproof.

The panels, as stated, are usually received in frame members which are provided with panel channels for the reception of the edges of such side, top, and bottom panels. In the particular form illustrated, the front side and the left end panels of the receptacle at the top fit in frame members 55, which are preferably formed of extruded metal such as an aluminum alloy or the like. The particular frame members are simple ones involving substantially parallel side walls,67, and an inner transverse partition 8 connecting the side walls. Thus each of the frame members 5-5 may be provided with a longitudinally extending passage 9, forming a closed void, and an open channel 10, for the reception of the edges of panels as heretofore noted. The vertical edges of those two panels are received in channels 11-12, in a vertical frame member 13, which preferably comprises the rightangularly formed panel channels 11-12, and a hollow or void section 14 along the outer corner. Such a frame member is more fully illustrated and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 299,116, filed July 16, 1952. Thus the adjacent panel members, in this case constituting the front and lefthand panels, would be received at the top edges in the channels 10 of the horizontal frame members 55, and the vertical edges of the panels would be received in the channels 1112 of the vertical corner frame member 13. The panels normally would be sealed in the channels of the various frame members and would preferably also be riveted or otherwise secured in place so as to provide a sturdy structure.

In order to provide a corner construction of very great strength, I employ means, preferably in the form. of a separate member, which interfits with the three frame members and secures all of them together in very sturdy fashion. In the form illustrated, I employ a connecting member or connector 15, which is preferably of rightangular form, having ends 16-16 of a size to be snugly received in the longitudinally extending passages 9 of the sections 5--5'. Thus, with the two ends of the connector snugly fitting in the channels or passages 9, the frame members 5-5 will be very securely held together, and, if desired, rivets or other fastening members may be employed for securing the reinforcing angle 15 to the frame members 55'.

The vertical frame member 13, which has the rightangularly formed channels 11--12, receives the appropriate panel edges as well as the middle or angular portion of the connector. In order that the reinforcing angle 15 may be properly secured to the vertical frame member 13, the walls forming the bottoms of the panel channels 1112 are cut away, as indicated at 17--17, to a depth sufiicient to receive the entire depth of the angle connector 15. Thus, the central part of the angle member 15 fits down in the top of the frame member 13 after the walls 17 are removed down to the depth of the angle piece 15. Thus the intermediate or central section of the channel member 15 is received in the top of the frame member 13, and the top of the angle 15 will, preferably, be flush with the top of the frame member 13 and with the tops of the frame members 55'. All of the three frame members will be securely held in place, particularly if the reinforcing channel member 15 is secured to all three of the frame members, as by means of rivets or other fastening devices. The panels fitting in the channels 11-12 and 1010 help also in holding the parts together.

With the frame members thus quite rigidly secured together, there is little likelihood that the corner of the case will be wrenched loose or opened during shipment or rough handling. Any type of lid and seal means may be employed to finish the chest. The construction is very simple and requires no great skill to form the corners and seal the same where sealing is deemed necessary, and the corner will be greatly strengthened.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail and a preferred form illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a chest of the character indicated, a longitudinally extending tubular member rectangular in transverse cross-section having flanges extending outwardly from two adjacent sides thereof forming longitudinally extending open channels at right angles to each other and integral with said tubular member, said flanges extending beyond the ends of said member, a corner reinj Patented Sept. 25-, 1956- 3 4 forcing member compri'sing'a right angular piece fitting whereby chest panels may be held in the open channels between sa-icLflanges and abutting theend of said tubular of said tubularmember' andsaid pair'of frame members member and having the ends thereof projecting beyond said flanges, a pair of frame members extending at right References Cited in the file Of this Patent angles to said tubular member and having longitudinally 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS extending tubular portions into which the ends of said corner reinforcing member fit, said pair of frame mem- 1 ggfig "g fi bers having longitudinally extending open channels in c theplanes ofsaid' open-channels in saidtubul'ar'member; 2161072 McKenney June 1939 

